Wagon end-gate.



Patented July 4, I899.

H. WITTIDH.

WAGON END GATE.

(Application filed Nov. 18, 1898.)

(No Model.)

m f' esses,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY WVITTIOH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

WAGON EN D-GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,425, dated July 4,1899.

Application filed November 18, 1898. Serial No. 696,818. (No model.)

To all whom it may conceive.-

Be it known that I, HENRY WITTICH, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vagon End- Gates; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in a wagon end-gate; and it consists in the novel arrangement, construction, and combination of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and set forth in the claims.

The object of this invention is to provide a wagon with an end-gate of my improved construction which is so constructed as to close the entire rear end of said wagon and is preferably made in two sections and so formed that the upper section may be removed with ease and replaced at any time, according to what material is necessary to be placed in the wagon.

Another object is to so construct the locks which secure the sections tightly to the body as to prevent said gate from being loosened or opened, which is caused in many cases by backing the wagon against telegraph-poles, posts, 850., where the present ordinaryfastener is used.

One of the main features is the manner in which the upper section is hinged, and by the use of these hinges the sections can be entirely removed from the wagon at pleasure without inconvenience.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a wagon-body, showing my gate applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a portion of the inside of the end-gate, with parts broken away, showing the lock in its closed position.- Fig. 3 is a similar view, only showing the lock in its opened position. Fig. 4C is a plan View of the opening hinge-bearin g. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the'same. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the solid or stationary hinge-bearing. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the hinges shown in position in the opening hinge-bearing. Fig.

The invention consists of an end-gate made in the usual manner, only constructed in a stronger and more durable manner and in upper and lower sections, to the former of which are bolted hinges 4:, which are provided each at its base with a right-angular extension 5, forming a shaft or pin constructed to fit in an opening 7, formed in the hinge-bearings 8. The latter are made in two styles, a and Z), the bearing a being provided with a right-angular recess 9 in its body, cutting away a portion of itself and passing centrally through the hole 7. 1n the recess is fitted and pivoted a member 10, which complements the remaining member, and it is attached at the top by a pivot or bolt 11. This member is pnovided with a stop or projection 12, which extends from the member '10, to which it is attached or on which it is formed, and strikes the other member, thus preventing the members from passing out of alinement when closing the same. On the outer face of the member 10 is a lug or handle 13 for the purpose of operating said member conveniently. It will be observed that the members when brought together (see Fig. 4:) have an inclined or slanted joint 14 to act also as a stop to prevent said members from becoming out of alinement.

The member 17 is a mere solid hearing, which is secured to the wagon-body and has the hole 7', in which one hinge is placed and operated.

The hinge-strap 4: has a lateral ear 15, provided with a hole 16, through which is passed and operated the shank of the locking-key.

At the inner face of each member of the endgate and to the sides of'its surrounding frame 17 I attach springs 18, each of which carries a lock-block 19, secured thereto, which operates through an opening 20 in said frame. This spring has a tendency to keep the member in a locked position, because the tip of the block is held in normal engagement with a keeper 19 on the wagon-body. The spring the gate entirely from the wagon.

section to hang down, as usual.

is operated by a key 21, which oscillates in a hole or bore formed in the frame and is covered by a plate 22. This key is secured to a rod or shaft 23, whose body passes through the frame and the hole 16 of the hinge, whose inner end is journaled in said plate 22 and whose outer end is provided with a handle or hand-nut 24, by which it is operated for opening. The key 21 has a small projection 25, which passes into a recess in the spring, acting as a stop for the key when brought to a certain degree of operation.

By the construction of the upper hingebearings the operatorcan easily, by opening the member and pushing the same to the left, bring it out of contact with the extension 5 of the hinge and remove the upper section of The lower hinge-bearings of Fig. 1 are ordinary hinges at the lower end of the lower straps, which are locked to the frame 17 by the same keys and hand-nuts as above described, but which when unlocked permit the lowermost gate- This is necessary in case large boxes or barrels are to be placed in said wagon, and when said barrels are placed therein the operator can again very easily replace the gate, and in this manner he has the entire rear end of the wagon closed.

I may place any number of these sectional gates on a wagon, according to the height of the body, and all may be so operated except the bottom or lower section, which of course it is not necessary to remove on account of it swingin below the floor of the wagon.

This styIe of gates will prevent them from being thrown open while the wagon is in the act of backing should it come in contact with a post, which was the case on many occasions .where the old-style look was used, and oftentimes the same became bent and broken and the said gate would be of no benefit; but my lock cannot be opened except by using both hands at the same time in operating the handnuts on the outside.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an end-gate for wagons, the combination with the wagon-framework, and the gate made in sections hinged thereto; of a shaft j ournaled through each section near each edge thereof and having a hand-nut on its outer end, a key on its inner end, and a springactuated block operated by the key and in normal engagement with a catch on said framework, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an end-gate forwagons, the combination with the wagon-framework, and the gate made in sections the lowermost of which is rigidly hinged thereto and the remainder of which are connected therewith by detachable hinges; of a shaft journaled through each section near each edge thereof and having a handle on its outer end, a key on its inner end, and a spring-actuated block operated by the key and in normal engagement with a catch on said framework, as and for the purpose set forth. v p

3. In an end-gate for wagons, the combination with the wagon-framework, and the gate made in sections hinged thereto; of a shaft journaled through each section near each edge thereof and having a hand-nut on its outer end, a key on its inner, end provided with a projection, a spring attached to said framework and having a recess engaged by said projection, the body of the spring being also engaged by said key, and a block on this spring normally in engagement with a catch on the framework, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a wagon end-gate made in sections, the combination with the wagon-body having a framework, the lower section of the gate hinged therein, and hinge-joints for the upper section consisting of bearings formed with transverse openings with one side of one of said bearings removable; of the upper section of the gate, hinges attached thereto and having right-angular extensions fitting said bearings, and means for holding this section in removable engagement with the framework of the wagon-body, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a wagon end-gate made in sections, the combination with the wagon-body having a framework, the lower section of the gate hinged therein, and hinge-joints for the upper section consisting of bearings formed with transverse openings with one side of one of said bearings removable; of the upper section of the gate, hinges attached thereto and having right-angular extensions fitting said bearin gs, and means for holding this section in re movable engagement with the framework of the wagon-body, the same consisting of shafts journaled through said section with handles on their outer ends and keys on their inner ends, and spring-actuated blocks moved by said keys and normally engaging keepers on said framework, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a wagon end-gate, the combination with the wagon-body having a framework, hinged bearings thereon one of which has a hole bifurcated and closed by a pivoted mem ber; of an end-gate proper made in sections, and hinges attached thereto and provided with right-angular extensions engaging said bearings, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a wagon end-gate, the combination with the wagon-body having a framework, hinged bearings thereon one of which has a hole bifurcated and closed by a pivoted member; of an end-gate proper made in sections, hinges attached thereto and provided with right-angular extensions engaging said bearings at one edge of each section, and catches at the other edge thereof comprising a shaft .journaled therethrough and having a block thereon .detachably connecting with said framework, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In an end-gate for Wagons, the combination with the wagon-body having a framework, and bearings thereon one of them comprising a rigid part, a member pivoted on said part, which part and member have complementary halves of an opening alined with an opening in the other bearing, a handle on this member, and means for holding it in position to complete said opening but yet to permit its movement; of the gate proper made in sections having hinges with extensions respectively entering said openings in the bearings, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In an end-gate for wagons, the combination with the wagon-body having a framework, and bearings thereon one of them comprising a rigid part, a member pivoted on said part, which part and member have complementary halves of an opening alined with an opening in the other bearing, and a projection on the pivoted member engaging the body of the rigid part when the member is in alinement therewith so as to form a complete opening; of the gate proper made in sections having hinges provided with holes, shafts j ournaled through the latter and having handles at their outer ends, keys on their inner ends provided with radial projections, springs carried by the framework and having recesses for said projections, and blocks attached to the springs and normally engaging catches in the Wagonframework, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY WITTIOH.

Witnesses:

ANNA SCHOEPF, WM. J. Brees. 

